I feel that there's something for everyone in Maui! The magnificent beauty of the ocean is plenty for me, but there's also amazing landscapes like rainforests, cascading waterfalls, stunning beaches, the marine life, and the people to fall in love with.

We travelled to Maui before the infamous big fires of 2023 that destroyed historic Lahaina, so we are so grateful to have experienced Lahaina as the vibrant town that it once was, and still pray that it will be restored completely and that its people will once again strive there.

We chose to stay in Wailea, located on the southwestern coast of Maui, between Kihei and Makena. Wailea is known as a luxurious resort community, known for its incredible beaches with turquoise waters. There you can sunbathe, snorkel, swim, and do all kinds of water activities. We are not golfers, but golf enthusiasts love this area for its top-notch courses, the Wailea Golf Club's Gold, Emerald and Blue courses.

There are upscale shopping centers in Wailea, The Shops at Wailea, where you can find high-end boutiques, are galleries and restaurants. Now we don't go on vacation for luxury shopping, so we visited the center briefly, and continued on our way. But if that's your thing, then by all means indulge in the beautiful shopping galleria.

We rented a vehicle from the airport and drove ourselves to our accommodations which was super easy. Having a rental car was great to explore the island with ease. We got to enjoy the trip to Lahaina (about 45 minute drive) three times during our visit. It was a beautiful, scenic drive, with the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other. Having our own wheels allowed us to make all the stops we wanted along the way. Since Maui is a tropical island, it gets frequent brief rain showers followed by beautiful sunshine. This causes rainbows to appear, making the island even more magical!

In between visits to Lahaina, we did a lot of beach-hopping, trying to see as many as possible on the Island. We tried lots of yummy street foods and the traditional shave ice, we visited a Goat Farm way up in the mountains, we saw sea turtles at Ho'okipa Beach park (on Maui's North Shore) which was such a highlight for us. We watched experienced surfers ride the waves, we ate at street fairs, and had delicious full meals at upscale restaurants and at the Luau we attended in Lahaina. The traditional Luau in Lahaina was authentic and amazing! As was mentioned above, there is something for everyone and activities for every budget. That being said, if you have the opportunity to visit Maui, do yourself a favor and go!

In addition to my packing tips, keep in mind that Maui is a tropical island destination. Pack light, comfortable, breathable fabrics and layers for cool evenings.

Below are some favorite photos from our trip, no filters, just natural beauty.